About This Masters Degree

Course Description

Ethnobotany is essentially interdisciplinary, involving knowledge of plants and their ecology in the context of their cultural, social and economic significance.

Ethnobotany is the study of the interrelationship between people and plants, particularly the way in which plants impact on human culture and practices, how humans have used and modified plants, and how they represent them in their systems of knowledge. This programme combines anthropological studies of human-environment interaction and sociocultural knowledge of plants in different parts of the world with ecology, conservation science, environmental law and biodiversity management. It also covers plant conservation and sustainable management practices, taxonomy, and economic botany.

The programme is taught collaboratively with the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew (a World Heritage Site).

This programme draws on the combined strengths of three academic centres. At the University of Kent, the Centre for Biocultural Diversity (http://www.kent.ac.uk/sac/research/research-centres/cbcd/) has pioneered research and teaching in ethnobotany and human ecology; it has been rated excellent for teaching, and its work in anthropological approaches to the environment flagged for excellence in the most recent HEFCE Research Assessment Exercise.

Careers

The School has a very good record for postgraduate employment and academic continuation. Studying anthropology, you develop an understanding of the complexity of all actions, beliefs and discourse by acquiring strong methodological and analytical skills. Anthropologists are increasingly being hired by companies and organisations that recognise the value of employing people who understand the complexities of societies and organisations.

As a School recognised for its excellence in research we are one of the partners in the South East Doctoral Training Centre, which is recognised by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC). This relationship ensures that successful completion of our courses is sufficient preparation for research in the various fields of social anthropology. Many of our students go on to do PhD research. Others use their Master’s qualification in employment ranging from research in government departments to teaching to consultancy work overseas.

Since 1998 we have trained nearly 150 students through our MSc programme. More than 25% of these have moved on to undertake research degrees in some area of ethnobotany (for example, Kent, Oxford, Sussex, Vienna, Florida, Tulane, British Columbia, McGill), or have taken up positions which utilise their training and knowledge, for example, in NGOs such as the Global Diversity Foundation, at the Harvard Museum of Economic Botany, conservation education, at various Botanical Gardens around the world (for example, Kew, Edinburgh, New York, Auckland, Beirut), at the United Nations Environment Programme, and in the pharmaceutical industry. Some have gone on to work in universities or start their own organisations and businesses.

Liz Gladin

International Scholarships for Taught Masters Students - CLOSED
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No. of awards TBC

The University has a long tradition of welcoming international students from around the world and is pleased to be able to offer a number of scholarships for entry at taught master's level.

Value of Scholarship(s)

£5000

Eligibility

•Applicants for postgraduate taught study at the University of Kent may ask to be considered for one of the University's International Scholarships. •In order to be eligible for consideration for a scholarship, all of the conditions 1 to 3 below must have been satisfied: 1 an application must have been made for a degree course at the University of Kent (any location of study is permissible) 2 the applicant must have received an unconditional offer of a place on such a degree course. 3 the University must have received confirmation of the applicant's acceptance of the offer.

Application Procedure

For details on making an application please visit the website.

Further Information

Hong Kong Alumni Scholarship - Deadline 31/05/16
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3 Awards

The scholarship aims to assist academically outstanding students from mainland China and Hong Kong to study at the University of Kent.The scholarships will be awarded to student admitted to study at the University of Kent. The value of the scholarship will cover full payment of the annual tuition fees plus part payment of accommodation and living expenses.Applicants should be either passport-holders of the People’s Republic of China or permanent residents of Hong Kong not currently registered on an undergraduate course at the University of Kent. Applicants should have received an offer of a place at the University of Kent for 2015 entry three postgraduate students for 1 year of study on taught postgraduate degree courses.Criteria: Candidates for the scholarships should normally fulfil the following requirements: have been assessed as overseas for fee purposes have made an application for a postgraduate (taught) degree course at the University of Kent (any location of study is permissible) have received an unconditional offer of a place on such a degree course. the University must have received confirmation of the applicant's firm acceptance of the offer by the deadline date. Students who choose Kent as their insurance place will not be eligible for the scholarship

Value of Scholarship(s)

full payment of the annual tuition fees and contribute towards payment of accommodation and living

Eligibility

The scholarship is available to full-time postgraduate students enrolling either on a postgraduate taught programme or a postgraduate research programme (3 years maximum). See scheme details for eligibility criteria.

Application Procedure

For details of how to apply please visit the website.

Further Information

Santander Scholarships - CLOSED
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No. of awards TBC

Santander is offering scholarships of £5,000 each to support students from Iberian and Latin American countries studying for a full-time taught or research Master’s degree at the University of Kent. The Scholarships: •are for the forthcoming academic year only (2014-15), the start date cannot be deferred; •are for one year only (12 months full-time); •may be used at any of the University of Kent’s locations – Canterbury, Medway, Brussels, Paris, or Athens.CriteriaThe awards are not available to students that already have, or are already studying for, a Master’s degree. Candidates must: • be a national of one of the 11 countries of the Iberian and Latin American Santander Universities network: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Columbia, Mexico, Portugal, Peru, Puerto Rico, Spain, Uruguay, and Venezuela; • have graduated or be studying at one of partner universities within the Santander Universities network: Argentina, Brazil , Chile, Columbia, Germany, Mexico, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Russia, Singapore, Spain, USA, United Kingdom, Uruguay; • be resident in one of the countries within the Santander Scheme. • have been offered a place to study a full-time Master’s degree at Kent; • have achieved a First or a 2:1 or equivalent at undergraduate level. • In addition to excellent academic achievement, demonstrate excellence in an area of their life; this may include: ◦extra-curricular activities, such as sports, music, managing events or societies; ◦significant achievement gained either in their working life or through volunteering and service to others.